Open-end funds remain steady amid slowed growth

Open-end real estate funds returned 2.3 percent during second quarter 2016, maintaining the same rate of return seen during the first quarter, according to MSCI’s PREA/IPD U.S. Quarterly Property Fund Index.

The index showed more stability — and a higher rate of return — than either the NCREIF Property Index or NCREIF’s Open-End Diversified Core Index, both of which saw returns decline during second quarter 2016 (though both remained north of 2.0 percent).

Still, this quarter represented the fourth consecutive period of decreasing capital value growth among open-end funds, which clocked in at 1.12 percent during second quarter 2016 after reaching 2.75 percent a year before.

The slowed growth, combined with a low interest rate environment, could spur investors to tack on more leverage to their deals in sear